James Walsh, 54, of Liskeavy, Tuam, pleaded guilty to engaging in electronic communication to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child between May and November 2020. He had previously been convicted of road traffic offences, criminal damage and a public order offence. The court heard that Walsh believed he was speaking to a 12‑year‑old girl named Eve, who was actually a decoy. He sent sexual images, asked for nude pictures, and tried to delete messages to hide them from the girl's mother. Gardaí seized two phones and found no evidence of a broader interest in children. Judge Brian O'Callaghan set a headline sentence of five years, reduced it to two and a half years and suspended it in full for the same period, subject to strict conditions. Walsh will be placed on the sex offenders register. The judge declined a request for reporting restrictions on his address.
In a case heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, Catarina Cardoso, a live‑in carer for a Galway resident with advanced dementia, claimed that her employer, Ross Jenkins, unlawfully withheld her final wages. Cardoso had resigned on 23 August 2024, citing anxiety and carer burnout, and had given the family four days' notice. Jenkins argued that Cardoso's abrupt departure left the vulnerable patient alone for nearly 24 hours, jeopardised medication administration, and caused the family to scramble for emergency assistance. The commission found no contractual provision allowing wage deductions and no written notice of any alleged misconduct. Consequently, the adjudicating officer ordered Jenkins to pay Cardoso €1,650.78 within six weeks, ruling the withholding unlawful. The decision focused solely on the wage issue, with no reference to the patient's care or any other matters.
A 27-year-old man from County Galway has brought an appeal against his five-year sentence for money laundering, contending the term was disproportionate. Brian Cummins, Balgaddy Road, Tuam, pleaded guilty to money laundering contrary to the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. He was sentenced to seven years with the final two suspended at Galway Circuit Court in July 2024. The Court of Appeal heard that Cummins had connections to organised crime figure Barry Young, who was convicted of directing a criminal organisation. Cummins facilitated a €1,000 transfer to an account nominated by Young following criminal damage to a house in Tuam in October 2019. Defence counsel argued the sentence was excessive given the modest sum involved and Cummins' limited involvement with the criminal enterprise. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the appeal, stating the judge had exercised proper discretion. Justice Tara Burns indicated judgment would be reserved until 14 July.
A 52‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement of a 15‑year‑old girl in Galway. The offence occurred in an apartment in Salthill between 12 and 13 June 2021. The defendant met the girl through a 16‑year‑old mutual friend, misrepresented his age and occupation, and sent her a note with his phone number and a key to his apartment. After the girl returned home, the defendant texted her, she blocked him, and later she told her mother what had happened. The girl did not initially give a statement but later did so at nineteen. The defendant claimed he performed oral sex but not intercourse, and that he did not know her age. He had a prior conviction for defilement, served two years with the final year suspended, and was on the sex offenders register until 2031. The court heard the victim is struggling and did not give a victim impact statement.
Conor O'Donoghue, 27, of Ardrahan, pleaded guilty to one count of assault after punching his housemate in the back garden of a Ballindooley house on 22 October 2020. The victim suffered a blow‑out fracture of the orbital floor and a nasal fracture, requiring surgery at Galway University Hospital. Garda Laura Devaney reported that the incident occurred during the Covid lockdown, that O'Donoghue was not intoxicated, and that both parties had struck each other and rolled on the ground. O'Donoghue admitted to being present, claimed the victim had shouted and head‑butted him, and said he punched in self‑defence. The court, noting no prior convictions and a positive probation report, applied section 1.2 of the Probation Act, ordered O'Donoghue to pay €1,000 to the Galway Simon Community within three months, and discharged him without a recorded conviction. The sentence was delivered by Mr Justice Brian O'Callaghan.
Raphael Gilmore, a 53‑year‑old solicitor from Dundela Haven, Sandycove, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of false instruments between August 2017 and November 2018 and to theft in July 2016, having stolen €28,000. An audit by the Law Society in 2017 revealed a deficit in a client account; Gilmore responded by forging an accountancy document and a bank statement, which the court found to be obvious forgeries. Four clients had given him money to pay stamp duty, but he retained the cash to cover the shortfall and never paid the duty. He claimed he was "in dire straits" and that his mismanagement and inability to run his practice led to the offences. The judge described the acts as "acts of desperation", noted Gilmore's lack of prior convictions and remorse, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, with no immediate custodial term.
Amy McAuley, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using a false instrument by submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and forging a medical report on November 23, 2022. The court heard that McAuley faked her death to avoid attending trial for prior theft and fraud offences. Judge Orla Crowe described the matter as complex and directed Probation Services to prepare a risk assessment report. The case was adjourned to October for finalisation. Defence counsel Rebecca Smith BL noted McAuley is now living in Dublin and successfully applied to change the Garda station where she must sign on twice weekly. Judge Crowe granted this application and remanded McAuley on continuing bail. The court also noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had previously appealed a 2015 sentence of two years, suspended for ten years, for theft of nearly €111,000, citing undue leniency. The Court of Appeal declined to alter that sentence but extended the repayment period to seven-and-a-half years, with the balance still outstanding.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 8 May 2025, a 42‑year‑old man's appeal against his rape conviction was dismissed. The man had been found guilty in August 2023 of raping his then‑partner in Co. Galway on 17 November 2019, when the victim's baby was sleeping beside her. The conviction followed a jury verdict that the man had entered the bed, raped the woman, and left when the baby woke. The appeal argued that the victim was unreliable because of mental health issues and that the prosecution's use of three recorded phone conversations was unfair. Justice Isobel Kennedy rejected all four grounds, stating the recordings were highly probative and that the victim's mental health did not render her unreliable. She also dismissed the claim that the jury's separate verdicts on two counts were contradictory. The appeal was therefore dismissed, leaving the six‑year sentence in place.
Amy McAuley, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of using a false instrument by submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and forging a medical report on November 23, 2022. Additionally, McAuley entered guilty pleas to five counts of theft and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime on separate dates between November 2015 and May 2023. The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed her 2015 sentence of two years, suspended for 10 years, for stealing nearly €111,000 from a former employer, citing undue leniency. The Court of Appeal declined to alter the sentence but extended the repayment period to seven-and-a-half years. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation next week.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that Nigel Canavan told his then-wife his mother "went a bit mad" and struck herself with a knife before her death. Mr Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Angela Canavan at her home in County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The prosecution alleges fatal violence and manual strangulation caused her death. Claire Conroy, Mr Canavan's former spouse, testified that he described his mother swinging her cane and becoming aggressive during an altercation. He said he went upstairs and later heard thuds before discovering her dead. A friend, John Gannon, told the court Mr Canavan telephoned him that evening in distress and later asked him to corroborate a story about discussing hurling rather than disclosing details of his mother's death. Mr Gannon said he instead told gardai the truth. The trial continues before Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
In a High Court case, Mr. James Buckley was warned by Judge Liam Kennedy that he was "perilously close" to being jailed for contempt if he failed to return the racehorse 'Big Time Louie' to Ms. Caroline Teltsch by 5 pm. The court had ordered the Buckleys to pay over €800,000 in damages after they were found to have unjustly enriched themselves with money loaned by Ms. Teltsch, who co‑owns the horse. The horse was to be placed in Ms. Teltsch's care, but Mr. Buckley removed it from the Emerald Equestrian Centre in Glenamaddy, claiming its feet were "rotting" and it could not walk. Judge Brian Cregan adjourned the matter to the following week, emphasizing that continued breach of the order could lead to imprisonment. The Buckleys' appeal of the original ruling was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The case highlights the court's insistence on compliance with its orders regarding the horse's custody.
A trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court concerning the death of a woman in her Sligo home. The State alleges that Nigel Canavan, aged 39, of Erris Gardens in County Mayo, strangled his mother, Angela Canavan, aged 58, on 1 May 2023. Mr Canavan has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution opening outlined that the deceased had enjoyed a successful career as a psychotherapist before developing severe alcohol dependency. She had sustained a brain injury following a fall and required periodic care. On the day in question, Mr Canavan had returned to his mother's home after work. Gardaí subsequently discovered her body in the kitchen and dining area, with evidence suggesting violent disturbance. A pathologist is expected to testify that death resulted from manual strangulation or asphyxia. The defence maintains the accused played no role in the death, asserting he discovered his mother's body after hearing noises. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo.
During a sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott warned that teenagers are targeted by manipulative propaganda from terrorists and other dangerous elements online. He criticised those who argue for minimal internet regulation, noting the harm to children and the suffering inflicted on others. The judge spoke about a case involving a teenager who, after being exposed to radical Islamist ideology online, attempted to murder an Irish Defence Forces member. The teen, whose name is withheld due to age, attacked and stabbed army chaplain Father Paul Murphy (52) at Renmore Barracks in Galway on 15 August 2024. McDermott described the attack as "terrifying as it is extraordinary" and highlighted how vulnerable teens can be drawn to extremist content. He warned that "so‑called influencers" spread extreme political, religious or discriminatory views to children, who are easily preyed upon because of their immaturity and open access to the internet.
A 17‑year‑old boy was sentenced to eight years' detention for attempting to murder Defence Forces chaplain Father Paul Murphy. The boy, who had no prior convictions, was radicalised online, mainly through ISIS content, and developed a warped view of Islam that led him to target a member of the Defence Forces. On 15 August 2024, he attacked Father Murphy with a large knife while the priest was in his car, stabbing him for about 90 seconds. The attack was stopped only after a soldier fired warning shots and intervened. Father Murphy suffered permanent scars and required surgery. The judge, citing the boy's age, immaturity, early guilty plea and remorse, set a headline sentence of 20 years, reduced to ten years with the final two years suspended for three years. The boy entered a bond to keep the peace and engage in a de‑radicalisation programme.
In a Galway Circuit Court trial, a 26‑year‑old Eastern European man was found guilty of human trafficking, the organisation of prostitution and coercive control of his partner. The jury heard that the couple moved to Galway in 2020, after the defendant forced the woman to work as an escort in their shared house and later drove her to Airbnbs across Ireland. He took photographs of her, posted them online, booked venues, acted as security, drove her to locations and controlled her finances. The woman, who had come to Ireland at 18 for a better life, was forced to work as an escort and later as a "sugar baby" before becoming pregnant. She disclosed the abuse at a Garda station, leading to the defendant's arrest. The prosecution presented evidence of the defendant's control over her work, finances and movements, while the defence argued a lack of evidence and reasonable doubt. The jury convicted him on all three charges. Eastern European pleaded not guilty.
In a sentencing hearing on 10 April 2025, Defence Forces chaplain Father Paul Murphy, aged 52, delivered a victim‑impact statement after being repeatedly stabbed by a 17‑year‑old boy on 15 August 2024 at Renmore Barracks, Galway. Murphy, who has served as a chaplain for 11 years, said he forgave the attacker and urged him to learn from his mistake and return to society as a "wholesome, happy and loving person". The boy, who was 16 at the time of the attack and whose identity is withheld, pleaded guilty to attempted murder. He was arrested on suspicion of assault causing harm and was remanded to Oberstown Detention Centre pending sentencing on 29 April 2025. The court heard the boy had been radicalised online, possessed a hunting knife, and had expressed anger over the Defence Forces' work in Mali. The hearing ended with the chaplain and the boy embracing in the courtroom.
In a Galway Circuit Criminal Court trial, a 26‑year‑old man charged with human trafficking, the organisation of prostitution and coercive control was told to the jury that he lived off his partner as a "cash cow". The prosecution, led by Patricia McLaughlin SC, described the complainant as an escort and lap dancer who worked from 11 am until midnight, earning money that the accused controlled. She claimed the accused did not seek employment and instead relied on her earnings, which were deposited in his bank account. The defence, represented by Delia Flynn SC, argued that the complainant's allegations lacked evidence and that she was aware of her rights and conducted her business voluntarily. The trial, presided over by Judge Brian O'Callaghan, continues with the jury to decide the man's guilt. The unnamed 26-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 April 2025, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Paul Kelly, 46, to seven and a half years' imprisonment for repeated rape and sexual abuse of his younger brother, Anthony Kelly. The judge noted that the abuse occurred between 1995 and 1999, when Paul was aged 16 to 20, and that it involved 12 counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and 12 counts of anal rape. Anthony, aged 10 to 14 at the time, had suffered lasting trauma and had come forward with a complaint in 2021. Judge Greally said the case was aggravated by the regularity of the offending, the extended period, the breach of trust and the fact that it took place within the family home. She also addressed letters from members of Paul's family, stating that it is "not permissible" to write privately to a judge about reporting restrictions, and that justice must be administered publicly. Paul Kelly was convicted.
Skyline View Ltd, a subsidiary of JMK Hospitality Group, was ordered to pay former head of operations Mark Langham €125,000 for unfair dismissal. The company claimed it had reduced operational needs in Ireland after renewing a €23 million deal to rent its Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport to the State's International Protection Accommodation Services as a direct provision centre, and cited financial considerations. Langham said the real reason was a personality clash with Sonia Kajani, the founder's daughter, and that the redundancy process was a "cloak" for his removal. The tribunal found no evidence that the company was in a financial position to justify the redundancy and that the dismissal breached the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The award was the first six‑figure sum granted by the Workplace Relations Commission in 2025. The case remains at the unfair dismissal stage, with no further verdicts announced.
In a Dublin City Centre robbery attempt on 9 November 2020, Samantha Osbourne (33) and Adam Casey (22) were jailed for their roles. Osbourne pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, backdated to her custody date. Casey pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery and one count of assault causing harm, receiving a four‑year prison term with the final year suspended and probation supervision for one year after release. The victim, who was walking to the city centre, was attacked by all three men, suffered a concussion, facial injuries and a minor brain bleed, and was taken to St James' Hospital. Andrew Cash (32) had already been sentenced to five years for the same attack. The court noted the victim's injuries and the defendants' histories, including Osbourne's 90 prior convictions and Casey's 15 prior convictions. The judge emphasised the seriousness of attacking a defenseless man.
Patricia Higgins, a part‑time office worker at Cruinniú Bia Ltd, was made redundant after she complained that a tradesman was cutting a hole in the roof above her desk with an angle grinder. Higgins had worked for the company for 14 years, returning from maternity leave in 2017. In May 2022 she reported to a new desk, but a tradesman began cutting a skylight above her. She stayed in place, later moving her equipment each time she was told to relocate. Higgins wrote a health and safety complaint, alleging risk and harassment, and agreed to investigate it formally in July. On 8 August 2022 she was informed of redundancy with no appeal mechanism. The Workplace Relations Commission found the company had breached the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Protection of Employees (Part‑Time Work) Act 2001, awarding her €20,000 in compensation for penalisation and unequal treatment.
A 38‑year‑old man named Lucky Enogheghase, who lives at Frenchville Lane, Galway, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for conspiracy to commit human trafficking. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, and the court considered two additional counts when determining the sentence. Enogheghase helped three Nigerian women travel from Nigeria to Ireland, where they were forced into prostitution by third parties already dealt with by the courts. He assisted with travel, accommodation and onward movement, but the investigation could not establish his exact role within the trafficking organisation or any reward he might have received. Enogheghase was arrested in November 2022, had no prior convictions, and was found to be cooperative during the investigation. The judge, citing recklessness for not knowing the women's fate, imposed the sentence and backdated it to his arrest.
A solicitor for Fadeside Ltd, a subsidiary of the Connacht Hospitality Group, told the Workplace Relations Commission that it was a substantial stretch for a manager who was dismissed 11 days after a miscarriage to claim protection under maternity law. The company's lawyer, Pat Mullins, argued that at the time of dismissal the employee was not pregnant and that the law's 12‑month service requirement could not be waived for a miscarriage. He said the dismissal was performance‑related and that the employee's pregnancy had not been disclosed. The employee's counsel, Ian FitzHarris, contended that the manager had not realized she was pregnant, had returned to work after a brief sick leave, and was dismissed within five days. The tribunal heard legal submissions but did not proceed to evidence, and the matter was adjourned for further submissions by 18 March.
David Williams, 68, was sentenced to six years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of deception, providing legal services while unqualified, and acting as an unauthorised personal insolvency practitioner between January 2019 and June 2020. The court found that Williams, who was not a practising barrister, defrauded hundreds of foreign nationals through bogus firms including THL Legal and Moore, Barrington and Walters. In a separate bill, he admitted to defrauding a Galway woman in her 80s by dishonestly inducing her to purchase a Kuboto U27 mini-digger for €7,841. Co-accused Crystal Talia, 46, pleaded guilty to impeding an investigation by allowing Williams to use her bank accounts. Talia, who has no previous convictions, was previously given a one-year suspended sentence. Judge Orla Crowe described Williams as an "endemic recidivist fraudster" who breached the trust of victims seeking to regularise their status in Ireland. Williams had previously failed to attend a sentencing hearing, resulting in two bench warrants. Defence counsel cited Williams' cardiac condition and employment history in mitigation, while noting his multiple prior convictions dating back to the 1970s. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
Sean Kinneavy, 74, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for 47 counts of sexual assault and two rapes involving a girl aged 10‑15, who was 50 years his junior. The offences occurred between January 2013 and June 2018 in Dublin and Galway. Kinneavy was directed to pay €38,000 in compensation to the victim and her mother for financial losses incurred while caring for the victim. He maintains his innocence and has no prior convictions. The judge noted the persistent nature of the abuse, the breach of trust, and the impact on the victim, describing the crimes as "deplorable". A two‑year post‑release supervision order was also imposed. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody in November last year. The court considered Kinneavy's age and good character as mitigating factors, but found the repeated offences outweighed them. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting trauma and financial burden she endured.
Tyler "Tiggy" Jackson, a 27‑year‑old from Ballydaheen West, Mallow, was convicted of murdering 24‑year‑old Conor Quinn on 12 July 2018 and sentenced to a mandatory life term by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon in October 2023. Jackson fled to the UK after the stabbing, was located in Cambridge, and returned to Ireland on a European arrest warrant in February 2022. He appealed in October 2023, arguing that the trial judge erred by admitting a statement from 16‑year‑old witness Christina Kearney, taken three days after Quinn's death, and that a jury should have been discharged after a civilian witness suggested Jackson had assaulted him. The Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds, holding that the judge had correctly assessed the admissibility of the statement and that no error justified interfering with the jury's findings. Jackson's appeal was rejected, leaving his conviction and life sentence intact.
Michael Scott, a 60‑year‑old farmer from Gortanumera, Portumna, was convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after he drove an agricultural teleporter over his 76‑year‑old aunt, Chrissie Treacy, on 27 April 2018. The trial judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, imposed a headline sentence of eight years, later reduced to six years after mitigating factors. Scott's counsel, Michael Bowman SC, argued the sentence was too high, citing the defendant's "blemish‑free" life and the circumstances of the incident. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Dean Kelly SC, defended the judge's discretion, noting the jury's finding that Scott's blind reversal for ten seconds across the yard posed a high risk to his aunt. The case was distinguished from dangerous driving causing death, and the judge highlighted Scott's lack of remorse at the time, though recent remorse was acknowledged. The appeal is pending. Michael Scott pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in an appeal brought by the State against a High Court decision regarding an action filed by Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell. Sen Craughwell alleges that a secret international agreement exists allowing the RAF to intercept rogue aircraft in Irish airspace, claiming such an arrangement is unconstitutional unless approved by referendum. The State, represented by Brian Kennedy SC, argued that the claims are political rather than legal and therefore not justiciable. Counsel for the State contended that the plaintiff's pleadings contained only "bare assertions" without sufficient factual basis to meet the threshold for trial, noting that the State could neither confirm nor deny the alleged security arrangements due to sensitive policy. Conversely, Gerard Humphreys, counsel for Sen Craughwell, argued that the existence of an arrangement requiring constitutional approval was evident from previous Dáil statements by then-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. He maintained that the Government's failure to control airspace breached the Constitution and requested the court to force the State to admit or deny the existence of a treaty. The three-judge panel, including Mr Justice Charles Meenan, heard these arguments on the preliminary issue of justiciability. If the State succeeds, the case will fall before a full hearing. The court has reserved its judgment on this appeal.
Mark Langham, a former senior executive earning €160,000 a year at Skyline View Ltd, a subsidiary of JMK Hospitality Group, has filed a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 claiming he was made redundant as head of operations in Ireland in June 2023. Langham alleges the redundancy was due to a "personality clash" with Sonia Kajani, the daughter of the parent firm's founder. The WRC was told that the Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport, one of JMK's four Irish hotels, had been contracted to the State's International Protection Accommodation Services as a direct provision centre for asylum seekers, a contract worth €20‑23 million a year.
A 17‑year‑old pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Defence Forces chaplain Fr Paul Murphy, who was stabbed on 15 August 2024 at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore Barracks, Galway. The teenager was 16 when the attack occurred and is not identified because of his age. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered a probation report from Oberstown Detention Centre and adjourned the case to 7 March for a sentencing hearing. Fr Murphy, aged in his 50s, will be invited to give a victim impact statement. He received treatment for multiple stab wounds at University Hospital Galway.
Thomas Greaney, a Galway City Council road sweeper driver, won €25,000 in compensation for disability discrimination after the council failed to make adequate workplace adjustments following his stress and anxiety caused by bullying. The bullying began when a supervisor transferred Greaney to the city's north‑west side in January 2021 and subsequently lodged a series of complaints accusing him of not performing tasks. Greaney reported the harassment and filed a formal grievance on 22 March 2021. An internal investigation in June 2021 upheld two of nine complaints, but the council delayed an independent investigation until April 2022, after the supervisor had returned to work. Greaney's case highlighted ongoing stress, GP visits, and prescribed anxiety medication. The Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator, Jim Dolan, found the council's handling "far too long" and ordered the €25,000 compensation for breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998.
The Central Criminal Court has set a trial date for a 17‑year‑old boy accused of attempting to murder Fr Paul Murphy, a 52‑year‑old army chaplain, at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore, Galway, on 15 August 2024. Mr Justice Paul McDermott scheduled the trial for 6 May 2025. The case will be revisited on 12 February to report on the progress of evidence disclosure.
A judge issued a bench warrant for David Williams, 67, after he failed to appear for sentencing. Williams, who had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of deception, including fraudulently posing as a barrister and defrauding a Galway woman of over €7,000, had previously been adjourned for medical reasons and had a history of non‑attendance. He was also convicted of providing legal services while unqualified and acting as an unauthorised insolvency practitioner. His partner, Crystal Talia, 46, was sentenced today for allowing Williams to use her bank accounts to facilitate the fraud. Talia received a fully suspended 12‑month sentence, with the judge noting her good character and family circumstances. The case involved the fraudulent firms THL Legal and Moore, Barrington and Walters, which were raided and found to have a client list of 1,200 victims. The bench warrant was issued to ensure Williams' arrest.
In a January 2025 hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott highlighted that limited psychiatric services in Ireland are causing additional trauma to families, citing the case of Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, who is charged with the murder of her six‑year‑old son Matthew. The judge noted that Healy's lawyers have spent months attempting to secure a psychiatrist's assessment, but have been unsuccessful due to shortages and delays. He described the case as "very sensitive" and stressed that prolonged waiting for psychiatric reports exacerbates trauma. McDermott pointed out that psychiatrists at the Central Mental Hospital are often unavailable because of their workload, and that low fees offered by the Department of Justice deter them from taking on cases. Consequently, lawyers sometimes seek psychiatrists abroad, such as in the UK, to obtain the necessary reports. The judge's remarks underscore the systemic limitations in the state's psychiatric services for complex criminal cases.
Cailean Crawford, 28, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of murdering Thomas McCarthy, 55, at his mother's home in Ballyfermot on 27 July 2020. Crawford pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the murder and of perjury during the trial. He had a prior conviction for conspiring to murder gangland figure Wayne Whelan, for which he served five years. The jury deliberated eight hours and twenty minutes before returning a unanimous verdict that Crawford fired several shots from a blue Ford Fiesta, killing McCarthy. Judge Tony Hunt sentenced Crawford to mandatory life imprisonment, backdating the sentence to 1 June after his previous term ended. The sentencing followed the prosecution's case that Crawford was the assassin who carried out the execution and that he had lied in court to avoid responsibility. The judge noted Crawford's prior criminal history and the seriousness of the murder.
A man from Galway, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, was convicted on 30 November 2022 of five counts of indecent assault against two sisters‑in‑law and one brother‑in‑law, all of whom were children at the time of the offences. The jury at the Galway Circuit Court found him guilty and Judge Brian O'Callaghan sentenced him to 23 months' imprisonment on 15 June 2023. The defendant appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the verdict was "perverse" because of alleged inconsistencies in the evidence and that the trial judge had erred by refusing to sever the indictment. Ms Justice Tara Burns dismissed the appeal, stating the appellant failed to meet the high threshold for a perverse verdict and that the trial judge had not erred in refusing to separate the cases. The conviction was upheld and the appeal against conviction was dismissed. The unnamed appellant pleaded not guilty.
Martin O'Brien, 54, of Gurrane, Tuam, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for four counts of sexual assault against a teenage babysitter, Áine McHugh, aged 16‑17, between 2012 and 2014. O'Brien had previously pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a 10‑year‑old child when he was 13‑14, a conviction still on appeal. In the current case, McHugh described O'Brien as a "sub‑human, monster" who groomed and repeatedly assaulted her while she cared for his children, giving her alcohol and assaulting her at home and in pubs. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the abuse occurring in O'Brien's home and his position of trust, and imposed a headline sentence of nine and a half years, but ultimately imposed a six‑year term with the final six months suspended on strict conditions, including probation engagement for twelve months.
In a High Court hearing, EirGrid was told it has no duty to explain why it refused Kilshane Energy Ltd, Coolpowra Flex Gen Ltd and Coolpowra Bess Ltd permission to bid in a national grid energy auction. Kilshane, which planned two 299MW candidate units at Huntstown, Dublin, argued that EirGrid's only cited reason – that a connection to a 400KV substation was not feasible in the time available – ignored the detailed schedules it had supplied. The court noted that the auction had 160 applicants and that EirGrid must balance competition with grid security under statutory duties. The respondents, represented by Niall Handy SC, maintained that the Capacity Market Code governs the process and that applicants must meet its evolving standards. The case remains pending, with the court to decide and provide reasoning later.
Kilshane Energy Ltd is challenging a decision by Eirgrid, supported by the CRU, to exclude it from an imminent auction to supply electricity to the national grid. The High Court heard that Kilshane had planned to build two 299MW candidate units at Huntstown, North County Dublin, but was denied access to the auction because Eirgrid said the 200KV substation nominated by Kilshane would not be large enough and a 400KV substation would be required. Kilshane argued that a 400KV substation could be constructed and that the project would be feasible and operational by the October 2028 deadline. The company appealed to the Capacity Market Dispute Resolution Panel, where the decision was upheld on the basis of feasibility. Kilshane claims the refusal will have cascade effects on projects costing tens and hundreds of millions of euros. The case continues with further oral submissions expected to finish by Thursday.
Cailean Crawford, 28, was convicted of the murder of Thomas McCarthy, 55, at Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, on July 27, 2020. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict after deliberating for eight hours and 20 minutes, rejecting Crawford's not guilty plea and his defense that he merely loaned a van to associate Charles McClean. Prosecutors alleged Crawford was the gunman who fatally shot McCarthy, who had returned from the UK to visit his mother. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Crawford as a "cold-blooded" and "dangerous individual," noting the crime was not a victim of circumstance. The judge highlighted Crawford's prior conviction for conspiracy to murder Wayne Whelan in 2019, for which he was sentenced to seven years with two suspended. McClean, who pleaded guilty to lesser offences in that case, was sentenced to eight years. Following the verdict, Crawford shouted at the court and stormed out. Mr Justice Hunt remanded Crawford in custody until December 20, when he will be handed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for murder. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
Neil Molloy, former host of Galway Bay FM's breakfast show, lost his unfair dismissal claim at the Workplace Relations Commission. Molloy alleged unfair dismissal and breach of minimum notice and terms of employment. The station, represented by Ibec official Declan Thomas, submitted that Molloy subjected CEO Cormac O'Halloran and programme director John Divilly to a "verbal assault" on 1 June 2023. Thomas stated Molloy admitted his behaviour was inappropriate on 8 June but again raised his voice and insulted O'Halloran. Siptu official Marie O'Connor contended the dismissal was a "witch hunt" and disputed any threatening conduct. The tribunal heard Molloy was suspended in June and dismissed in September following a disciplinary hearing. Company chairman Peter Allen stated there was a "breach of trust" and that Molloy's anger during the apology indicated it was not a once-off incident. Adjudicator Janet Hughes found the initial incident might not have justified dismissal but ruled the second incident undermined Molloy's apology. She concluded the decision to dismiss was not unfair, though the finding of gross misconduct was excessive. The tribunal dismissed both statutory claims as not well founded. The matter is now being appealed to the Labour Court.
Martin O'Brien, 54, of Tuam, Co Galway, pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault committed between June 2012 and February 2014 against a teenage babysitter. The case is currently at the sentencing stage before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo at the Central Criminal Court. The matter was previously adjourned in July to allow for the preparation of reports regarding sexual offender treatment O'Brien was undergoing. Today, the court heard mitigation from O'Brien's wife, Leonie O'Brien, who requested leniency citing his good character and family circumstances, including her own stage three breast cancer diagnosis. O'Brien also took the stand to express remorse and confirm he is attending therapy. A forensic psychologist report indicated he is at low-average risk of re-offending. The victim, who waived anonymity, described the assaults as relentless and grooming-based. Mr Justice Naidoo adjourned the case to December 16 for sentence. Separately, O'Brien has a previous conviction for sexual assault against a child, which is currently under appeal; he had contested that case, resulting in an eight-month suspended sentence and a €16,000 compensation order.
A Galway man was convicted on 30 November 2022 of five counts of indecent assault against two sisters‑in‑law and one brother‑in‑law, all of whom were children at the time of the alleged offences. The jury found him guilty on all counts except one directed acquittal. He was sentenced on 15 June 2023 to 23 months' imprisonment, with six months suspended on the first charge and six months suspended on the three charges against his brother‑in‑law. A €500 fine was imposed for the second sister‑in‑law's charge. The man, who pleaded not guilty, has appealed, arguing that the jury's verdict was "perverse" because the judge refused to sever the indictment and that the evidence contained inconsistencies. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the trial stage, with no further outcome reported.
David Williams, 68, and co-accused Crystal Talia, 46, pleaded guilty to multiple charges at the pretrial stage. Williams admitted to multiple sample counts of deception between January 2019 and June 2020, as well as defrauding a Galway woman in her 80s by dishonestly inducing her to buy a Kuboto U27 mini-digger for €7,841. Talia pleaded guilty to impeding an investigation by allowing Williams to use her bank accounts. The court heard allegations that Williams, who is not a qualified barrister, operated bogus legal firms to scam approximately 1,200 people. In the separate mini-digger case, Williams allegedly directed the victim to a vendor and provided his own bank account details, though Gardaí traced the machine to a third party and fully refunded the victim. Judge Orla Crowe refused a request for a probation report but granted time for Williams to gather character references. The matter was adjourned, with both defendants remanded on continuing bail for finalisation on December 13.
A 25‑year‑old man was sentenced to six years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for raping a 20‑year‑old woman in Galway in July 2021. The victim, whose identity is protected, gave a victim impact statement in which she blamed herself for being naïve and expressed that she could no longer live independently, having moved back in with her parents. She described how the assault occurred after she invited the man to her home, how he forced her to surrender her phone, and how he later feigned a heart attack. The man, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a unanimous jury. He has five prior convictions and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The judge set a headline sentence of seven‑and‑a‑half years, reduced to six years after mitigating factors, and ordered post‑release supervision for two years under the Probation Service, with penalties for non‑compliance.
In a High Court decision on 24 October 2024, a ruling against the security company Sablecross Limited (trading as Frontline Securities) in a case brought by Frank Reidy of Limerick was set aside. Reidy, who claims to be heavily involved in the GAA, alleged that after the 2018 All‑Ireland Hurling final at Croke Park he entered the pitch to collect jerseys and was suddenly assaulted by security and stewards. He says his arm was twisted behind his back and he was forcefully ejected. Reidy's action names the GAA, represented by Tom Ryan, and Sablecross. The court noted that the GAA had filed a full defence and the case was awaiting a hearing. The judge found that a miscommunication about correspondence had caused a default judgment against Sablecross and, in the interests of justice, set that judgment aside, while the proceedings against the GAA continued as normal.
A 27‑year‑old man, Tyler 'Tiggy' Jackson, who was convicted of murdering 24‑year‑old Conor Quinn in Mallow, County Cork, has appealed his life sentence. His counsel, Dean Kelly SC, argues that the trial judge erred by admitting a statement given by 16‑year‑old Christina Kearney three days after the death. The statement, taken by Detective Garda Sean Buckley, was allegedly altered—words such as "running" were crossed out and replaced with "walking"—without Kearney's initial. Kelly contends the court could not have been satisfied that the statement was a true account of what Kearney said on the day it was taken. He also claims the trial judge failed to discharge the jury when a civilian witness, Stephen Quinn, suggested Jackson had assaulted him, thereby creating an unfair trial. The Court of Appeal will decide the appeal at a later date.
Galway County Council has conceded to an objection by the Friends of the Irish Environment Group (FIE) regarding emergency flood relief works near Kylemore Abbey in Connemara. The High Court hearing, presided over by Ms Justice Emily Farrell, found that the council had communicated its concession to the objection last month. The FIE had challenged the council's authorization of works under the 1949 Local Authorities Act, arguing that the Act's provisions were invalid and that the works breached EU directives on habitats and environmental impact assessments. The group sought a High Court order to quash the council's decision to authorise works at the N59 Kylemore Bridge and to impose a temporary stay on those works, as well as declarations that sections of the 1949 Act were mis‑transposed EU directives. The court adjourned the matter for two weeks to allow the parties to consider further proceedings.
The Workplace Relations Commission upheld the dismissal of delivery driver Szymon Stolarczyk after he admitted stopping a 15‑year‑old girl on the street and offering her chocolate from the window of a company van. The incident occurred on 15 December 2023 at a housing estate where Stolarczyk and a colleague were making deliveries. He claimed he had never been told in training not to share food with people on the street, but the company argued that a complaint from the customer and a report to Gardaí had led to an investigation. Stolarczyk was suspended with pay on 18 December, admitted the facts, and was sacked for gross misconduct. The tribunal found the dismissal fair, rational and proportionate, and rejected his claim of unfair dismissal.
Poliane Fernandes Lima, a fashion buyer, was dismissed by Elland Distributors Ltd (trading as Born Clothing) on 25 January 2024 after her work visa had expired two days earlier. She had a renewal appointment scheduled for 28 January and had informed the payroll administrator a month earlier that her visa renewal would be delayed. The company's manager, Marty Murphy, issued a termination letter without any investigation or discussion about her visa status. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the dismissal was unfair, citing the absence of any procedural safeguards and reliance on incorrect information. The adjudicator noted that Lima had applied for a visa renewal well before it expired, meeting the Department of Justice's grace period criteria. Consequently, the tribunal ordered Elland Distributors Ltd to pay Lima €25,000 in compensation for the unfair dismissal.